Safe opening can



May 17, 1966 w. J. HAYFORD SAFE OPENING CAN 2 Sheets-Shree?l l INVENTORHm/F020 waQQEM May 17, 1966 w. J. HAYFORD SAFE OPENING CAN 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1'?, 1965 INVENTOR UUAQQEM J. Haw/FORDATTORNEYS r ously cut. portion of the end panel precludes the dispensingof many United States Patent O 4 3,251,502 SAFE OPENING CAN Warren J.Hayford, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc.,New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 17, 1963, Ser. No.331,293 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates in general tonewand useful improvements in container construction and more particularlyto a can having an easy opening end wherein a major portion of the endpanel thereof is removable by means of a tear strip.

At thepresent time a limited number of cans are being provided with endsof the easy opening type wherein a peripheral tear strip is provided andwhen this tear strip is torn from the can end, a major portion of theend panel of the end is removed 'with the tear strip. These openingdevices have proved to be successful as far as the opening of the can isconcerned. However, due to the fact that the tear strip must have theoutermost boundary thereof spaced inwardly from the chuck wall of thecan end, when the major portion of the end panel of the can end isremoved by a tearing of the tear strip, there remains a narrow angularouter por-tion of the end panel which terminates at its inner edge in asharp edge resulting from the tearing of the tear strip therefrom. Itwill be readily apparent that such a can construction is deficient fortwo primary reasons. In the lirst place, the raw edge is in a positionwherein one placing their hand or fingers within the opened end of thecan is very apt to be seri- Secondly, the inwardly projecting remainingproducts from cans. It will be readily apparent that when the product isrelatively solid, as opposed to being relatively fluid, the inwardlyprojecting remaining portion of the end panel will bar thefree movementof the product out of theA opened end. These problems have not beenencountered in the past wherein the end panels are removed through theopening of cans utilizing can openers in that mechanical can openersleave a very minimum portion of the end panel and that portion of theend panel remaining attached to the can is forced downwardly alongsidethe body of the can by the cutter blade.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention toprovide a novel safe can which is provided with an easy opening end ofthe type wherein a major portion of the end panel of the end is removedby means of a peripheral tear strip, the can differing from existingcans which are provided with easy opening ends in that at least the endportion of the can body is flared or stepped so that although the outerboundary of the tear strip is spaced from the chuck wall of the end, thecan body continues to serve as a shield for the raw edge of theremaining portion of the end after the removal of the end panel thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can having aneasy opening end whereby the can may be readily opened for the purpose'of dispensing the contents thereof,that portion of the can body to whichthe easy opening end is attached being flared whereby the portion of theend remaining after the opening thereof in no way interfere with thedispensing of the product from within the can.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can bodyparticularly adapted for use with ends of the easy opening type, the canbody having an end portion adapted to receive an easy opening end, andthe end portion being outwardly. flared whereby when an easy opening endis secured to the can body, the outer periphery of the tear strip isdisposed in direct overlying Patented May 17, 1966 ICC relation to theoutwardly flared portion of -the can body so that this outwardly flaredportion of the can body both shields the remaining raw edge of the endafter the open ing thereof and provides the necessary clearance for thedispensing of a relatively solid product contained within the can.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel canconstruction which utilizes an end of the easy opening type wherein amajor portion of the end is removed by means of a peripheral tear strip,the can including a can body having the end portion thereof to which thecan end is to be attached ared outwardly, and the can end having an endpanel which includes an outer ilared portion corresponding generally tothe flaring of the can body and the outer periphery of the tear stripoverlying the flared portion of the can body wherein when the removableportion of the can end is removed in the opening of the can, theremaining raw edge of the can end is disposed immediately adjacent toand overlying the flared portion of the can body'wherein this raw edgeis entirely shielded by this flared portion of the can body. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel canconstruction which includes a can end of the easy opening type having aperipheral tear strip for the purpose of removing a major portion of theend panel of the can end, the can including a canl body which has a beadwhich 'is inwardly directed immediately below the outer boundary of thetear strip wherein when the can is opened by the removal of the tearstrip, the remaining raw edge of the can end directly overlies and isprotected by the bead of the can body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can end of theeasy opening type wherein when the can end is opened, the remaining rawedge is protected, the can end including an end panel which includes anouter portion directly connected to a chuck wall thereof, the outerportion of the end panel being in the form of an inwardly directed bead,and the end panel being provided with a peripheral tear strip of whichthe outer border is disposed at the intersection of the main portion ofthe inner panel with the outer portion thereof so that when the mainportion of the end panel is removed by tearing the tear striptherefrom,` the resultant raw edge is protected by the bead whichremains attached to the chuck wall.

A still further object of this invention is to provide other novel canconstructions which incorporate other advantageous combinations of theaforementioned can ble safe can results.

Yet another object of this invention is to providel a novel canconstruction which is provided with a can end of the easy opening type,the end of the can body to which the easy opening can end is attachedbeing outwardly flared whereby like cans may be readily stacked whenstored or shipped.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafterA appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through anopened upper end of a conventional type of can incorporating aconventional type of easy opening end and clearly showing thedeficiencies of such a can.

-lFIGURE 2 is a top perspective view of the upper portion only of a canformed in accordance with this invention, the can being shown in apartially opened condition.`

3 of FIGURE 2 along the line 3-3 and shows both the specificconstruction of the can and the manner in which a like can may bestacked in partially nested relation therewith.A

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 4 4 of FIGURE 2 and shows a cross section through the upper endof the can similar to that of FIGURE 3 but with the tear strip partiallyremoved so as to clearly illustate the open condition of the safe can.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar toFIGURE 3 and shows a modified form of can end construction.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 4 and showsthe can end of FIGURE 5 in its opened state.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through an upperportion of a can incorporating a can end similar to that of FIGURES 5and 6, but with the position of the outer boundary of the score linebeing shifted.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through anotherform of can construction which incorporates the can end of FIGURE 3 butwherein the can body is of the tapered type.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a canconstruction which includes -a tapered can body and the can end ofFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View takenthrough the upper portion of another form of can construction whereinthe can body thereof is provided with an upwardly directed bead at theintersection of the flared upper portion of the can body with thecylindrical portion and the outer'score line defining the tear strip isdisposed in the recess formed by such bead.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takenthrough a modification of the can construction of FIGURE 10 wherein anupwardly and outwardly fiared outer portion of the end panel of the canend is provided with an upwardly directed bead immediately adjacent theouter score line of the tear strip.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takenthrough still another form of can construction wherein the can tbody hasa tapered outer po.- tion which vis provided with an upwardly directedbead, and the can end has a tear strip of which the outer score line isin overlying relation to the bead of the can body.

FIGURE 13 is Ian enlarged fragmentary vertical sec-l tional view takenthrough a modification of the can construction of FIGURE 12 and showsthe can end as having an upwardly directed bead immediately outwardly ofthe outer score line thereof whereby when the can is opened, theresultant raw edge is protected by a bead on the can end and a bead onthe can body.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made toFIGURE 1 wherein there is illustrated a typical prior art canconstruction, generally referred to by the numeral 15. The canconstruction 15 includes a can body, generally referred to by thenumeral 16, and-a can end, generally referred to by the numeral 17. Thecan body 16 is of the conventional type and includes a straightcylindrical body portion 18 which has secured to the upper end thereofthe can end 17 by means of -a conventional double seam 19. The can end17 has a chuck wall 20 which extends down alongside the inner surface ofthe body portion 18 at the upper end thereof and then terminates in ahorizontally directed end panel 21. Only a small portion of the endpanel 21 remains after the opening of the can 15. It is to be understoodthat the end panel 21 is initially provided with a pair of score lineswhich define a peripheral tear strip and that in the opening of the can15, the tear strip is torn out with the result that a major portionA ofthe end panel 21 is removed. As a result of the tearing out of the majorportion of the end panel 21, that portion of the end panel 21 remainingis provided with a sharp raw edge 22.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the prior art canconstruction 15 has two major deficiencies. In the Ifirst place, the rawedge 22 is in an exposed position whereby anyone placing their hand orfingers within the opened can 15 for any purpose whatsoever may beseverely cut. In addition, since the remaining portion of the end panel21 projects into the interior of the can body 16, it will be seen' thatwhen relatively solid products are packaged within the can 15, thedispensing thereof will be hindered by the inwardly projecting end panel21. This invention is directed to the provision of safe cans whichovercome the two above-mentioned deficiencies of the existing prior artcan 15.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that there isillustrated a lcan which is formed in accordance with this invention,the can being generally referred to by the numeral 23. The can 23includes a can body generally referred to by the numeral 24. The canbody 24 includes a cylindrical body portion 25 which extends a majorportion of the height of the can body 24 and which has secured to thelower end thereof a conventional type of can end (not shown), The canbody 24 differs fromconventional types ofcan bodies in that in additionto the cylindrical body portion 25, it includes an outwardly flaringupper body portion 26. The upper body portion 26 terminates in acylindrical extreme upper portion 27.

The can 23 also includes a can end of the easy opening type, the can endbeing generally referred to by the numeral 28. The can end 28 is securedto the can body 24 by means of -a conventional double seam 29 and has aninner depending chuck wall 30 which corresponds to the body portion 27of the can body 24. The can end 28 also includes an end panel of which amajor portion 31 is generally planar and which terminates in an upwardlyand outwardly flared outer portion 32. The outer portion 32 of the endpanel corresponds generally to the flared portion 26 of the can body 24.

In order to facilitate the opening of the can 23 without the use of anyopener, the outer periphery of the main portion of the end panel isdefined by an annular tear strip 33. The annular tear strip 33 isdefined 4by an inner score line 34 and an outer score line 35, the scoreline 35 being disposed at the intersection of the main portion 31 andthe flared portion 32 of the end panel.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will `be seen that the tear strip 33 alsoincludes an inwardly directed starting portion 36 to which there issecured in .any desired manner a pull tab 37 which facilitates theinitial tearing of the tear strip starting portion 36 from the endpanel.

In the opening of the can 23, an upward force is directed on the pulltab 37 by means of which the starting portion 36 of the tear strip istorn from the end panel. A continued upward pull on the pull tab 37results in the complete tearing of the tear strip 33 from the end panelwith the result that all of the main portion 31 of the end panel is tornIfrom the can, as -is shown in FIG- URE 4. When the can 23 is opened, itwill be apparent that all of the can end 28 disposed in alignment withor inwardly of the cylindrical body portion 25 of the can body 24 hasbeen removed. The can end 28 now terminates iat the inner edge of theflared portion 32 of the end panel and there remains what may beconsidered a raw edge 38 along the prior position of the score line 35.It is to be noted that this raw edge 38 is completely protected by theared portion 26 of the can body 24. Further, since the raw edge 33 isretracted with respect to the cylindrical body portion 25, that portionof the can end 23 remaining attached to the can body 24 in no Wayhinders the removal of the product packaged within the can 23.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6 in particular, it will =be seen thatthere is illustrated a modified form of can which is generally referred-to by the numeral 4d. The can 4? includes a can body which is identicalwith the can body 24 and will lbe so identiiied. The can 40 alsoincludes a can end 41 of the easy opening type which is secured to thecan -body 24 by means of a conventional double seam 42. The can end 42includes a depending chuck wall 43 which extends alongside the innersurface of the body portion 27. The can end 41 includes an end panel,generally referred to by the numeral 44, which is integrally :formedwith the chuck wall 43. The end -panel 44 includes a main portion 45which is generally planar. The main portion 45 is removable in theopening of the can 40 and is of the same construction as theabove-described main portion 31. The main portion 45 includes aperipheral tear strip 46 which is defined by an inner score line 47 andan outer score line 48.

The end panel 44 also includes an upwardly and outwardly liared portion49 which is directly connected to the chuck wall 43. Intermediate theflared portion 49 and the main portion 45, the end panel 44 includes anupwardly and generally inwardly projecting bead 50. The bead 50 has oneedge thereof disposed along. the score line 48 and intersects the mainportion 45 along this line.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that when the can 40 isopened, the main portion 45 of the end panel 44 is removed. Thus whenthe can 40 is opened, the can end 41 terminates along the inner edge ofthe bead 50. Since the bead 50'is downwardly directed towards the flaredportion 26 of the can body 24, it' will be seen that any raw edge 51resulting from the opening 'of the can 40 will be directed generallyltowards the flared body portion 26. Thus the raw edge 51 is protectedby both the flared ybody portion 26 `and the bead 50. In addition, itwill be readily apparent that neither the raw edge 51 nor the bead 5)will in any 4way hinder the removal of a product packaged Within the can40 in that both the bead 50 and the raw edge 51 are disposed out-.wardly Iof the cylindrical lbody portion 25.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 7 wherein there is illustrated a can 55which is very similar to the can 40. The can 55 differs from'the can 40only in that in lieu of the outer score line 48 `being disposed `at theintersection of the bead 50 with the main portion 45 of the end panel,the score line 48 is moved further outwardly so as to be at theintersection of the flared portion 49 and the bead 5l). Thus the lbead50 becomes a part of the tear strip 46 and is removed therewith duringthe opening of the can 55. Although the Ibead 50 does not remain whenthe can 55 is opened, it `will be readily apparent that the flaredportion 26 of the can body 24 provides adequate protection for the rawedge which will be disposed along the inneredge of the flared portion 49of the end panel 44. The -bead '50, being a portion of the tear strip46, serves the dual purpose of reinforcing the tear strip 46 so that itwill not accidentally be ruptured during the can opening operation andalso functions as a shock absorber so as to prevent the accidentalrupture of the tear strip 46 from the remainder of theV end panel 44.

flared portion 67 of the end panel to assure that the' entire mainportion 66 will `be removed.

It will be readily apparent that when the can 60 is opened and the mainportion 66 is removed in its entirety, the can end 65 will thenterminate at the inner edge of the flared portion 67. Any raw edge thatmay be disposed along this inner edge of the ared portion 67 will lbeprotected #by the taper of the can body 61. Furthermore, be-cause thecan body 61 is of the tapered construction, it will be readily apparentthat with the removal of the entire main portion of the end panel, the

contents of can 60 may be readily removed.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 9 wherein there is illustrated a canwhich is generally referred lto by the numeral 75. The can 75 includes acan |body 61 and a can end which is generally referred to by the numeral76. The can end 76 is constructed very similar to the can end 65 and issecured to the can body 61 by means of a conventional double seam 77.Like the can end 65, the can end 71 includes a chuck wall 7S to whichthere is connected an end panel 79.. The end panel 79 includes a mainportion 80 which is of a generally planar configuration and an outerportion in the form of a bead 81. The main portion 80 is defined by aperipheral tear Referring now to FIGURE 8, it will be seen that there isillustrated a can construction which is generally referred to by thenumeral 60. The can includes a can lbody 61 which is of the taperedconstruction as opposed to the normal cylindrical construction of canbodies. The can body 61 Vis normally of a drawn or extruded constructionso as to be devoid of the customary side seam. The can body 61 includesa tapered or generally conical lbody portion 62-7which terminates at theupper edge `thereof in a short cylindrical portion 63 which facilitatesthe forming of a conventional double seam 64 which is utilized in thesecurement of acan end to the can body 61.

The can end 65 may be identical with the can end strip 82 which, inturn, is defined by an inner score line 83 and an outer score line 84.The outer score line 84 is disposed at the intersection ofthe bead 81with the main portion of the end panel 79.

It will ybe readily apparent -that when the can 75 is opened with theremoval of the entire main portion S0 of the end panel, the lresultantraw edge will be disposed -along the inner periphery of the ybead 81 andthus will be protected Iby both the bead S1 and by the tapered bodyportion 62 of the can body 61. Furthermore, -because of the taperedconstruction of the can body 61, it will be readily apparent that thebead 81 and the resultant r-aw edge will not be in the way of theproduct [being dispensed from the can body 61.

Another form of can construction, generally referred to by the numeral85, is illustrated in FIGURE l0. The can 85 includes a can body,generally referred to by the numeral 86. The can body 86 includes acylindrical body portion 87 which extends a major portion of the heightof the can body 86 and which has the lower end thereof closed by mean-sof a conventional can end (not shown). The can body 86 has an upperoutwardly flared portion 88 which is connected to the cylindric-al bodyportion 87 by means of a horizontally disposed bead 89. The can body 86also includes an upper cylindrical body portion 90 which terminates in aconvention double seam 91 which is utilized to secure to the can body 86a can end, generally lreferred to by the numeral 92. The can end 92 isof the easy opening type and includes a chuck wall 93 which correspondsto the body portion 90. The canend 92 also includes an end panel,generally referred to by the numeral 94, which is formed of a generallyplanar main portion 96 and an upwardly and outwardly fiared portion 97,the flared portion 97 being directly connected to the chuck wall 93.

The main panel 96 is intended to be completely removed in the opening ofthe can 85 and is generally defined by a peripheral tear strip 98. Thetear strip 98- the bead 39 and the flared can body portion 88. Further,the score line 1111i is disposed at the intersection of the main portion96 of the can end and the flared portion 97. In addition, in the formingof the can end 92, it will Ibe seen that in alignment with the scoreline 106 the end panel 94 is provided with a slight downwardly directedbead 1111 which nests generally within the corner defined at theintersection of flared body portion 8S Iand the bead 89.

It will be readily apparent that when the can S is open-ed through theremoval of the main portion 96 of the end panel 94, the resultant rawedge will be disposed along the inner periphery of the flared portion 97of the can end. The `raw edge will be disposed generally within thecorne-r defined by the flared portion 88 of the can body and the bead39. Thus, it will be readily apparent that the raw edge will be fullyprotected by the can body. In addition, since the remaining portionofthe can end 92 is disposed entirely outwardly of the bead 89, the canend 92 will in no way interfere with the dispensing of the contents ofthe can 85.

In FIGURE 11 there is illustrated a modification of the can 85, themodification being generally referred to by the numeral 105. The can 105includes a can body 86 to which there is secured a can end, generallyreferred to :by the numeral 1116. The can end 106 is very similar inconstruction to the can end 92 land includes a chuck wall 1117 which issecured "to the cylindrical upper portion 90 of the body 86 by means ofa conventional double seam 108. The can end 106 also includes an endpanel generally referred to by the numeral 109. The end panel 169includes a generally planar main portion 11i) which terminates in `aninwardly and upwardly directed bead 111 which is integrally connected toan outermost flared portion 112 of Ithe end panel 109.

In order to facilitate the removal of the entire main portion 1111 ofthe end panel 1119 in the opening of the can 105, there is formed on themain portion 110 an inner score line 113 and an outer score line 114which define a removable tear strip 115. It is to be noted that thescore line 114 is disposed at the intersection of the main portion 11()of the end panel 199 and the bead 111. It is also to be noted that inthe formation of the end panel 110, a slight downwardly directed bead116 is formed. The bead 116 is disposed at the intersection of the mainportion 111) and the bead 111 and is seated in the corner defined ybythe lbead S9 and the flared portion 88 of the can body 85.

It will be readily apparent that When the can 105 is opened and themarin portion 110 is 'removed in its entirety, the can end 106 willterminate along the inner edge of the bead 111. The resultant raw edgewill then be disposed generally within the corner between the flared canbody portion 88 and the bead 89. Thus the raw edge will be protectedboth by the specific construction of the can body 36 and by the bead 111of the can end 166. Due to this particular location of the resultant rawedge, it will be readily apparent that it will be impossible for 'anyoneto cut themselves on the raw edge. In addition, it will be readilyapparent that all of the can end 106 remaining after the opening of thecan 105 will be disposed outwardly of the bead 89 and thus not in theway of the product contained within the can during the dispensingthereof.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, it will be seen that.

there is illustrated a can construction which is generally referred toby the numeral 117. The can 117 includes a can body which is generallyreferred to lby the numeral 118. The can lbody 118 is of the taperedtype and includes a tapered or generally conical body Wall 119. The can117 also includes a can end 65 which is secured to the can body 118 bymeans of a conventional double seam 120. The can end 65 has a chuck wall65 which is in face-to-face engagement with the inner surface of Aacylindrical upper portion 121 of the can body 118.

The end 65 also includes an end panel which is shaped to define a mainportion 66 that is generally planar and an outer upwardly flared portion67. The body v/all 119 is provided with an inwardly directed bead 122which is positioned so that the main portion 66 of the end panel seatsgenerally on the bead 122 and the score line 7i) which defines the outerperiphery of the tear strip 63 is disposed along the upper boundary ofthe bead 122. Thus, it will be readily apparent that when the can 117 isopened by removing the main portion 66 through the tearing away of thetear strip `68, the resultant raw edge will be along the inner boundaryof the flared portion 67 of the end panel and thus be protected by thebead 122. Thus the bead 122 together with the flaring of the body Wall119 and the end panel portion 67 provides for a complete protection ofthe raw edge against accidental engagement by ones fingers or hand.

In FIGURE 13 there is illustrated a modification of the can 117, themodified can being generally referred to bythe numeral 125. The can 125is formed of the can body 118 together with the can end 76 of FIGURE 9with the can end 76 being secured to the can body 118 by means of aconventional double seam 126. It will be readily apparent that in thecan 125, when the same is opened through the removal of the main portion80 of the end panel 79, the raw edge formed on the can end 76 throughthe opening action will be disposed along the inner boundary of theIbead 81 so as to be partially protected by the bead 81. At the sametime, the raw edge will be disposed along the outer boundary of the bead122 and thus be protected by the bead 122. Since the resultant raw edgewill be protected by both the bead 81 and the bead 122, it will readilyapparent that there is no possibility whatsoever of ones fingers orhands coming into contact with the resultant raw edge.

It is readily apparent from the foregoing description of the various canconstructions of this invention that in each instance the canconstruction is such that the raw edge resulting from the opening of thecan utilizing a tear strip is automatically protected by the canstructure. Also, it will be readily apparent that each of the cans is soconstructed wherein that portion of the can end remaining attached tothe can `body after the opening operation is so disposed whereby it inno way hinders the removal of a product from the can no matter what thenature of the product is.

Another advantageous feature of the cans disclosed hereinabove is thatdue to the fact that the easy opening end of each can is of a largerdiameter than the opposite end thereof, the cans may be readily stacked,as is shown in FIGURE 3. The conventional bottom end of a can, includingthe projecting seam thereof, will be of a size to be received in theopening defined by the easy opening end.

Although numerous embodiments of the invention have been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that otherminor modifications may be made in the can constructions within thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having acan end of the easy opening type, said can end including an end panelhaving incorporated therein means tearable from said end panel to removea major Y portion of said end panel and thereby effect the opening ofthe can, and said can body having an outwardly directed portionunderlying an outer boundary of said removable end panel portion wherebya raw edge resulting from the removal of said end panel portion will bedisposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can bodythereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring thatno portions of said can end remaining after the opening of said can willbe in a product dispensing restricting position, said can body being ofthe tapered type, and said'outwardly directed portion being part of aninternally directed bead formed in the tapered wall of said can body.

2. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having acan end of the easy opening type, said can end including an end panelhaving incorporated therein means tearable from said end panel to removea major portion of said end panel and thereby effect the opening of thecan, and said can body having an outwardly directed portion underlyingan outer boundary of said removable end panel portion whereby a raw edgeresulting from the removal of said end panel portion will be disposedoutwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body therebyproviding for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that noportions of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will bein a product dispensing `restricting position, said can end having aradially inwardly directed bead immediately adjacent to and axiallyoutwardly of said removable portion to further shield the resultant rawedge. j

3. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having acan end of the easy opening type, said can body including a cylindricalmajor portion and an outwardly flared end portion, and said can endincludying an end panel formed of a main portion which is readilyremovable and a ared outer portion, said ared outer portion of said canend being in face-to-face engagement with said can body flared endportion and said can end main portion being defined by a peripheralWeakening line overlying said can body flared portion whereby a raw edgeresulting from the removal of said can end main portion will be disposedoutwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body therebyproviding for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that noportion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will bein a product dispensing restricting position, said flared outer portionbeing joined to said end panel main portion by a radially inwardlydirected bead whereby the raw edge will be additionally shielded by saidcan end bead. i

4. A safety canof the easy opening type comprising a can body having acan end of the easy opening type, said can body including a cylindricalmajor portion, an outwardly iiaring end portion terminating in a seamedconnection with said can end and an intermediate internal bead joiningsaid can'body end portion to said can body major portion, and said canend including a removable end panel portion defined by a peripheralweakening line overlying the intersection of said can body end portionand said bead whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of saidremovable end panel portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediatelyadjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding ofsuch raw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remainingafter the opening of said can will be in a product dispensingrestricting position, a recessed corner between said can body endportion and said bead and a projection corner on said can end at saidweakening line with said projecting corner being seated in said recessedcorner to further protect the raw edge.

5. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having acan end of the easy opening type, said can body including a cylindricalmajor portion, an outwardly ila-ring end portion terminating in a seamedconnection with said can end and an intermediate internal bead joiningsaid can body end portion to said can body major portion, and said canend including a removable end panel portion deiined by a peripheralweakening line overlying the intersect-ion of said can body end portionand said bead whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of saidremovable end panel portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediatelyadjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding ofsuch raw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remainingafter the opening of said can will be in a product dispensingrestricting position, said end panel having an internal bead immediatelyoutwardly of said weakening line to further shield the raw edge.

6. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a tapered can bodyhaving a can end of the easy opening type, said can body having atapered body wall, and said can end including an end panel formed of amain portion which is defined by a peripheral weakening line and isreadily removable and Ia ilared outer portion,

said flared outer portion being in face-to-face engagement with taperedbody wall whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said can endmain portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacentportion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of suchlraw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining afterthe opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restrictingposition, said end panelincluding an internal bead immediately outwardlyof said weakening line to further shield the raw edge.

7. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a tapered can bodyhaving a can end of the easy opening type, said can body having atapered body wall, and said can end including an end panel formed of amain portion which is defined by a peripheral weakening line land isreadily removable and a flared outer portion, said flared outer portionbeing in face-to-face engagement with tapered body wall whereby a rawedge resulting from the removal of said can end main portion will bedisposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can bodythereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring thatno portion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can willbe in a product dispensing restricting position, said tapered body wallhaving an internal bead immediately below said end panel main portion tofurther shield the raw edge.

8. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a tapered can bodyhaving a can end of the easy opening type, said can body having atapered body wall, and said can end including an end panel formed of amain portion which is deiined by a peripheral weakening line and isreadily removable and a flared outer portion,

vsaid ilared outer portion being in face-to-face engagement with taperedbody wall whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said can endmain portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacentportion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such rawedge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining after theopening of said can will be in a product dispensing restrictingposition, said end including an internal bead immediately outwardly ofsaid weakening line, and said tapered body wall having an internal beadimmediately below said end panel main portion to further shield the rawedge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON,Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SAFETY CAN OF THE EASY OPENING TYPE COMPRISING A CAN BODY HAVING ACAN END OF THE EASY OPENING TYPE, SAID CAN END INCLUDING AN END PANELHAVING INCORPORATED THEREIN MEANS TEARABLE FROM SAID END PANEL TO REMOVEA MAJOR PORTION OF SAID END PANEL AND THEREBY EFFECT THE OPENING OF THECAN, AND SAID CAN BODY HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION UNDERLYINGAN OUTER BOUNDARY OF SAID REMOVABLE END PANEL PORTION WHEREBY A RAW EDGERESULTING FROM THE REMOVAL OF SAID END PANEL PORTION WILL BE DISPOSEDOUTWARDLY OF AN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID CAN BODY THEREBYPROVIDING FOR THE SHIELDING OF SUCH RAW EDGE WHILE ASSURING THAT NOPORTIONS OF SAID CAN END REMAINING AFTER THE OPENING OF SAID CAN WILLBEIN A PRODUCT DISPENSING RESTRICTING POSITION, SAID CAN BODY BEING OFTHE TAPERED TYPE, AND SAID OUTWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION BEING PART OF ANINTERNALLY DIRECTED BEAD FORMED IN THE TAPERED WALL OF SAID CAN BODY.